Tubular-welt-knitting machine.



F. B. WILDMAN 81 G. L. BALLARD.

TUBULAR WELT KNITIZNG MACHINE.

APPLICATICN LED 131N118. ".912.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

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F. B. WILDMAN & G. L. BALLARD.

TUBULAR WELT KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION nun JUNB18, m2v

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 f O m wm WI III/6712573.-

Q, ,B Z, Georyelawsoxfiallard QW%VL, Mm, mafdvm 4 F. B. WILDMAN & G. L, BALLARD.

TUBULAR WELT KMTTING MACHINE APPLICATION 'ziL-EDJUNE191S12. 1,127,334 Patented F6112, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

I W n r MW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK I3 WILDMAN AND GEORGE LAW-SON BALLARD, OF NORRIS'IONN, TPENNSYL- VANIA, ARSIGNQRS TC "WILDMAN MEG. C0. A CORIORATION OF PENNSYLVANLA 'lTUBULAR-XVELT-KNIT .lTING MACZHINE.

To (1/! who! hwy com)" Be it lino :thut we, 4. and (hcoizcr. lnumnn u crux of Great llr iz m. i mctie:ly insulin alt Norristown, l in, luninw tr-(l certain new unrl nsouil lnaproveimfnn in Tubular WellJinnah) Hue lion h i i l to ia'cnh i Liilli'll hn' 1 imvhlnes of t 313 cvhncler and ho n in connec ion with whine, though it )5 not respect and i cinhwlics the "the inwntior limite in I gent, :il pa".

in Lenten 12:11: it

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I i rim: or the it Your Specifics Lion of Letters Faitent.

Patented Feb.

Serial No 704,443.

ing 0) ing cum 6" and a. second stitch cam 13 these being positioned in the dial corresponding to the position of the cams l, 2. (3-43, :llltl 8 01'' the cylinder. In a six-teed machine there are three of the sets of dial t-lnns our! three of the sets of cylinder cums, described shore, and each set it will be noti 1, has two :ulumcing and two stitch marking thus provision for six feeds. Fig. l sl'irinvs ains for ii four feed machine. In knitting l'lll fabric the cams of the cylinder znirl rlinl are in the positions shown in lj i i' fl 3* For forming the two Walled or tubular welt nl cwe mentioneth alternate wing or nth an ,ng Chills 1 of the dial are connected up to Jr, adjusted automatically and in 1mison oin pattern mechanism on tho fixed fram and alternate advancing cams of the cylinder, if the three cams (5 6 are connected up to be adjusted in unison from this pattern mechanism, it being observed that those wing cams l of the dial which are intically controllecl are opposite or co- 1m? with tiose advancing cams 1 of the cylinder which are fixed, while those alternznc mlmncing cams, 6., (543' of the cylin lez: which are automatically controlled, are a-iliizrent thos" *ulvuncingz or wing cams ti ol' the dial which are fixed, or rather, which rc not iilitonnitically adjustable. In other words the automatically controlled cums of the (hall and cylinder alternate cition in respect to each other, and each w.---.ln operation, the alternate 3" of the dial are thrown into tion to simply hold the loops Withnew stitches, with the result feeds a a welt is formed on the i While this is taking place feeds a at the alternate feeds 1) 'ihir rib is being produced, their courses outing with the welt courses formed on tln: cylinder needles at the feeds a. 'When 21 out number of welt courses have been knit to prevent raveling back. the clearing comse is then made, and this is done by n" ng; the clearing course cams 3 to the position. shown in (lottcil lines, Fig. 3, to get 1 ii loops bziclc of the latches to be thrown 0%: when the needles retract. Immediately tollmring the point where the cvlinder neetllcs knit of? for making the clearing wursejs,

there are the brushes of bristles 4 suported on the dial cap, for opening the atches of the cylinder needles so that they will b open to receive the thread when they arrive at the next feed. Immediately following he clearing action, the cylinder needles are empty until they arrive at the 'next feed, 2'. 6., the cam 6, 6, where they ad- Vance and receive yarn which is to form the foundation of the tubular welt. No stitches are formed at this time, however, on the cylinder needles at this feed I), though there are stitches formed on the dial needles, because there are no old loops on the cylinder needles, but the cylinder needles simply re ceive the thread and this goes on until all the cylinder needles that have been cleared take on the. thread, and when this is done, the cams 6, 6, immediately drop out of action, so that no loops will he formed at these feeds on the cylinder needles. The knitting of the plain fabric for one wall of the welt on the cylinder needles begins. however, when the needles arrive at the feeds a, and the dial needles begin to knit the other wail of the welt when the cylinder needles are thrown out at the feeds 4 just c: cribed. In other words, the taking on of the thread by the cylinder needles following the clearing course resume: plain knitting on the cylinder needles for one wall of the weltwhen the cylinder needles arrive at the feeds a owing to the wing cam remaining in welt position, and the dial knitting plain fabric for the inner wall of the welt begins at the feeds 6 when the cylinder needles thrown out of operation.

In throwing the cylinder needles at of opcation as just described, thesprcial cam (l, 6 is first moved down from the position shown in Fig. 15 to that shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, 21a, to the point where the cylinder needles would be tucking, and on the continuation of the revolution when the necdles that have been cleared pass the yarn guide on feed Z the cam dropped all the way down out of action, and clear of the path of the dial needles, and the wait for mation now begins; on the dial ne dlcs at this feed and on the cylinder noodles when thcyarrive at the next feed, 1'. (R, feed a. The interval between the tw o downward movements of the cam ll, (3, is to insure that the nccdlc that have been cleared will pass the feed I,- bci'orc the can: drop; all the way.

All of the cams 3, 6'. are controlled from pattern mechanism situated at the left of the machine in Fig. 1. The posts 7 of these cams are operated by arms 9, on rock sleeves or shafts 10 mounted in brackets ll. fixed to the cylinder cam ring, the rock sleeves being operated by rods .12 connected to a ring 13 in an annular recess oi the dial cap. to be partially rotated by a rod 14 pivoted thereto at 15 and connected with a lever 16 which is controlled by a pattern wheel 17 and by a spring 18. The lever 16 is pivotally mounted in a frame bracket 19, which also has a socket in which the spring 18 is located. The spring 'n'sses upwardly on an arm in of the lever and the other arm is" of the lever carriesa roller 16 which bears on the pattern wheel 1?. The spring gives the movei'nent to the lever which de presses the cams, the wheel l? in conjunction with other means now to be described determining when this spring shall exert its force. 'The first downward step of the came; 6, is due to the pattern wheel in its revolution lirii'iging the low part or vacant space 1?. of its pattern surface to the roller of the lever 16, whereupon the spring '18 will move the pattern lever and depress the cams ii, 6 until the pin or arm 20 on one of the rock slccves engages a catch :21, l, and T, pivoted to the base plate of the head. This will dctcrniinc the limit of the lirst step nioicnicht of the cam downvard, the catch holding all the connections against the powcr of the spring. The catch is released alter the fraction of a revolution at the machine to allow the second step iiiovcnient downward of thc tan) (5, a to taltc pair-c, this release being affected by a cam ranting with the take-up ring 133, it being secured thereto l'T the hangers ll. This cam as the take-up ring rcwilvcs (this moving with the i 'zalc cvlindw as in ordinary practice) operates a lever ill on a rock shaft :25. having its hearings in the frame bracket ill and in thabracln-t 26, the upper end f this rock shaft having an arm i"? engaging a notch in a slide 3 suitably guided. in the liaizic liracltct and having, a pin ril which on '11s an arm 30 when the slide moves." toward. thiright in Fig. 1. This arm 30 l:-f on a rock shaft 31 journalcd in the fixed base plate of tlic-iiiacliinc, and which forms the piiotal mounting for the (alt The catch now moved away from the controlling pin 20 by the mechanism just described, allowing the spring 18 t0 movc the lever lo. the roller of said levcr llf'lllg' till opposite the space I? of the pattern wheel and thus the lever through the rod l'l, ring 13 and rods l2 will opcrate all oi the alter) cams l3, 6 all the way down to put the cylinder needles out of operation at those points for wclting on the dial at the feeds 7). The catch 21 is, of course, operated at every rciolution of the machine, and it is only when the pattern whccl presents its space i? does it have any effect. as at other tin'ics the earn (3 is held up by the pat trrii whccl acting through tlu: lever and rods described. By controlling the step-by-step cam loth bv the pattern wheel and the cam 22. through the catch 21. a small measuring device. whether it be a wheel or a chain, may be used. The measuring device for the pattern mechanism here shown the i hain 33'. The slide 28 is used for operating the pattern wheel 17, it being provided with a pawl 32 engaging a ratchet wheel lined on the shalt of the pattern wheel. The measuring chain 33 passes over a wheel or drum 33" loose on the shaft of the pattern wheel, this chain determinin when the pawl will engage the ratchet w eel. 3,3. The chain wheel is combined or formed 'with ratchet teeth 33 engaged by a pawl 32 on the slide :28, which paw ls the ohuin around. This chain has high and low links, Fig. 2, to control the engagement ofthe pawl with the ratchet 33 of the pattern wheel. We describe the measuring means only gcrr erally, as other forms and arrnmgenicnts may be used. The rock shaft 25 is Hm in opposition to the cam by n Slil'il r and the spring gives the slide its liilllll movemeht to the right, after operating; the pattern wheel ratchet, for operating the catch 21. The catch 21 is also pr :mtl il spring 35 surrounding its rook shaft or pivot pin tending to move it into pt .ilion to hold the cams 6. 6, in internmlmte po sition. The catch 21 may be otherwise op erated than by the same can! whi h our;

ates the pawl slide, for instance by r. min on any revolving part of the nnu'liine. 1:; w cam under or adjacent the needle cylinder. The wing cams l are operated automotically for Welling on the cylinder needles by links 36 on top of the dial mp. cr-ew's; from which links pass through slots of tin: cap into the wing cams and through slots 37 in the ring 13 into a lower ring 13 lo cated immediately below the ring l3, l ig. ll. This lower ring is operated from a pattern lever 38 through a rod 39, Fig. 1. connected with one of the screws which pivotnlly connects the link 36 of the wing on m to the ring 13'. The pattern lever is controlled by n pattern wheel 38' and a spring 38 in a man ner similar to the le\ er ll the pattern wheel. being fixed on the same shaft as the pattern wheel 17.

When the Welt is to he formed, the cum (5, 6' is dropped all the way down as above dcscribed, and in order to drew it longer stitch by the dial needles while the are forming their wall of the welt we employ adjustable blocks 40 on the ring 1 which come against levers 41 pivoted to the dial cap and having connection with the dir-l stitch in R bv plns 42 J11 the lovers passing: 2hr. .gh slots 43 of the dial cup to hear on the out side edges of the stitch cums, so that when .the ring 13 is moved to drop the cum. ll

all the wav down, the stitch cams 8 will be adjusted inwardly to draw a longer stitch. Thus at the same time that the cylinder needles are thrown out of operation. at this feed. the d al cam is adjusted to draw :5 longer stitch for the welt. The clearing ti in course cams 3, l operated from ring 4% encircling the howl. said ring ha ing molines thereon ll whit-h raise posts movable in braeimts it: attached to the mm c index, the posts lin ng connected lvv pins 47 with the posts of the} clearing course cams. This ri crmcd through n rod 18 from a pat line) 43 "hich has two ari'ns l9, ill", the former living Ollilltilftl from :1 pattern wheel ()0 ind the latter from a Pattern i :l 5!. 7 ll if; is opcrzitcd rowing in ii-1.; dnmti His. and he ring may. throug "is lhlti lll sow-him n. be made to oompv sir position .q. 'lor plnin rib limiting. iilfiltilllllif on all tends. slacken ng on n b I'm-(ls. and for uolenring cor i'tdu ii ilml lilo pull! ruins iii :in in" 'r illi i r Ll co in main lid; Jim-ii l-z- Ci llliil i (lul rw ilmls are sewn-ii Fl li 'lm'iil pow tioi. o this nnnxa 1.. l mm. The wing guard and dull stiirh lwl. tr ilk-Winti on lli 11-, n'imullle dial mp \m n. mu .i'i lira-Fr guard r:;.l'n:-: llri l ulna-(us the th r the pru l in) 1hr inciting illll ml to lu hul porl iilh on Ni 2+: :1 inur on the lilli! oi lilo die 1.; awn its. mrrvspondimi sow tint: rind min lliilf cam r :m'nowd. and i this illv iamdlvs can is" l()lilii; i -(l as to liniil position for l't"(l.l" l'lg linnng when the dial sou v are new 1 attached to the din! cap, as Slur edge oi" ti "Li mun w ll enuhlo the nwdl! to in roper-i; nowtiuned by simply pu hing lib-m inwsirlllv. the thew in. lT .+i'll(iVl( lllt he ill; were they or made of tiiimw" Iii '1' 11 and were of lo the level sullicient tiiltiill wr; oi thereof and Mai! H lb.

of the w ing can; lllti the :ldintcnt fixed cam.

Fl opening laidmnia-il :lt T is now closed ne'nmst the innmd innonirnt indinllv of the needles lwcznse ii is -mcred by thoproi il pomon in? of line tuch l if mm.

Some of ilitll or For . v fr llk) Lli'] cams of the dial, having omitted the guard and tucking cams, which, however, are clearly shown in Fig. 4..

The hrusl -s l are automatical; thioun out of position over the needles, so as to save wear on the brushes when they are not needed, and we have illustrated mea lor doing this in connection with only one of the brushes, similar means being used with the other brushes in practice. This means consists of a lever in? pivoted to the dial cap and operated by a pin 57 extending from the lower rii'ig 1 5' up through. a slot in the up per ring, so that when this lower ring is moved to adjust the wing cams ot' the dial the brushes will be moved out of operative position.

The pattern mechanism may be 'wiiiiely varied in construction, but in the particular form shown it is, in its general features, like that shown in. the llnitcd States patent of h'lclilichael, and \Vildman. #508 r, November 21, 3893. The fabric produced is like that disclosed in our prior pa tent above noted.

\Ve claim as our inventioi'i:

1. In combination in rib knitting ma chine, a r xcdle cylinder and dial, cylinder and dial cams, rings movable circumferentially of the dial, pattern mechanism on the fixed frame for operating the rings, QUl'lillEC ticns from one ring extending through the dial cap to operate the dial cams, conuwt cns from the other ring for operating the ryliin der cams, including rock shafts on the fixed cam ring coi'inccted with the cams, and rods connecting the rock shafts with said ring. substantially as described.

.2. In combination in a rib knitting iuachine for making tubular wells, a r ary cylindc and dial, ailvancing and stitch rains for the cylinder and d al needles, a clearing course cam for the cylinder needles. rings extending circum tercnlially oi" the dial. coniiccticns from said ings to the advan ing cams of the cylinder and dial, a circumferentially movable ring for operating the clearing course cam. and pattern mechanism for operating the rings, substantially as described.

3. In combination in a, rib knitting machine for making tubular waits. a rhlary cylinder and dial, advaming and stitch cani v for the cylinder and dial needles. a clearing course cam for the cylinder needles, rin extending circm'iilcrcntiall v of the dial. connections from said rings to the .idvancing cams of the cylindc and dial, a circuinlcrentially movable ring for operating he clearing course cam. and p; ttcrn mechanism for operating the rings. said last mentioned ring adjusting also a stitch cam of the cylinder. substantially as described.

4. In combination in a circular rib knit ting machine for making tubular Welts, a

plurality of feeds, adjustable advancing cams of the dial alternating in position with adjustable advancing cams of the cylinder and each adjustable advancing cam being arranged. adjacent the fixed advancing cam of the opposite set, pattern mechanism, rings on the dial, connections from the pattern mechanism for operating the rings, connections between one of the rings and the adjustable advancing cams of the dial, connections between the other ring and the adjustable advancing cams of the cylinder, stitch cams for the dial and cylinder, and a connection between alternate stitch aims of the dial and the ring which operates the advancing cams of the cylinder, substantially as described.

5. In combination in a rib knitting machine, a rotary needle cylinder and dial, dial cams, cylinder earns, the latter including an advancing cam movable step by step downwa d to be put out of operation, pattern mechanism or giving the cam its first step movement downward, a catch for arresting the cam, and a member rotating with the machine for releasing the catch for the further downward movement of the cam, substantially as described.

6. In coniliinaticn in a rib knitting machine, a rotary cylinder and dial, cylinder and dial. cams including an advancing cam movable step by step to be placed out of ope'raticn, a catch for controlling tle movement of the cam, pattern mechanism with connection to the cam for giving it its first step movement, and a cam mounted on a rotating part of the machine for controlling the catch to effect the second step movement of the cam. substantially as described.

T. In crmbination in a rib knitting machine. a rotary cylinder and dial, cylinder and dial cams. including an advancing cam movable step by step. connections for operating: the cams, a spring for operating the ct nma-tions. pattern mechanism for controlling the spring and said connections, to give the cams their first step movement, a catch for coi'itrolling the said connections, and a cam member mounted on a rctating part of the machine for controlling the catch to efthe second step movement of the cam,

chine, a plurality of feeds, a plurality of step by step adjustable cams for the cylinder needles, a catch with connections to all of the said cams for retaining them in their intermediate positions, and means for controlling the catch, substantially as described.

10. In combination in a rib knitting machine for making welts, the cylinder and dial needles, dial cams, the cylinder camsincluding a plurality of advancing cams adjustable step by step, a ring connected with the step by step cams, a catclr for controlling the position of the ring, pattern mechanism for operating the ring, and a member rotating with the machine for controlling the catch, substantially as described.

11. In combination in a rib knitting machine for making tubular welts, the cylinder and dial cams including a plurality of advancing cams for the cylinder needles, a ring with connections to the said cams, in-

cluding rock shafts, pattern mechanism connected to the ring, a catch for controllin one of the rock shafts, and thereby contro ling all of the cams through the rin and means for controlling the catch, su Stantially as described. v

12. In combination with a dial plate, a. grooved wing cam pivotall supported thereon, and a cam adjacent t e wing cam and forming the inner wall of the cam way, said cam reaching over lower face of the wing cam at its pivoted end and extending into the mouth of the groove thereof to close the cam way a ainst displacement-of the needles radially inward, substantially as de scribed.

In testimony whereof, we afiix our signatures .1n presence of two witnesses.

FRANK B. WILDMAN.. GEORGE LAWSON BALLARD.

Witnesses E. R. onnn'rs, O WEN a 1.1mm. 

